Hinged gate document feeder



SePt- 10 1963 :../J. HUBBARD- ETAL 3,103,355

HINGED GATE DOCUMENT FEEDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 www# akamu Shuvx Sept' 10 1,963 L.. .1. HUBBARD ETAL 3,103,355

HINGED GATE DOCUMENT FEEDER Filed April 18, 1962v :s sheets-sheet 2 68. EN 7 :6 f 27 lll; y

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HINGED GATE` DOCUMENT FEEDER Filed April 18, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 MKM AT TORNEX United States Patent O 3,103,355 HINGED GATE DOCUMENT FEEDER Leo J. Hubbard, Gerald J. Heckel, and Billy M. Leyland, Phoenix, Ariz., assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 18, 1962, Ser'. No. 188,309 20 Claims. (Cl. 27l-5) This invention relates to document handling systems and more particularly to la document feeder for feeding documents from a stack of documents.

Document handling systems .find numerous applications in the mechanical and electrical data processing systems and the like which 'are in `widespread use today. Such document handling systems may be, for example, sorter devices which sort 'a large plurality of documents according to a prealrranged scheme ,or may be document reading devices vvhich read information contained on the documents -and supply the information to an -associated data processor. 'llhe information being read may be contained on 'the document in `a number of ways, for example, in the form of magnetizable characters, punched holes or optical characters which the reading device recognizes.

The physical nature of the documents being read or handled may take la number of forms, such as relatively stiff and relatively thick punched cards which are widely known `and used, or relatively thin and flexible bank checks.

lIlhe documents to be processed in such document handling sys-tems are normally `stored in stacks containing a large number of such documents. The systems usually include transport mediums through which the documents are transported serially to be read and to have the appropriate `operations performed on them. The systems thus require some means for feeding `the documents serially into the transport medium from the stack containing the documents. These means are usually called feeders or feeder devices.

In systems for operating upon relatively stiff documents, such as punched cards, the documents are usually fed into the transport medium by a vdevice known as a picker knife. However, the picker knife tends to mutilate the edges of lthe document, with the resultant greater likelihood of malfunction within the system. Also, due to the inertia of the picker knife, there are upper speed 4limitations on such lfeeders.

'Dh-ere are two general types of feeders known in the prior `art for feeding relatively thin documents -such yas bank checks into document handling systems, these being the use of feeders which separate documents by means of.

counter-directional driving devices and feeders which `separate documents by Vacuum devices.

In the first of the above mentioned types of feeders, the driving devices are usually adjacent belts or drums which rotate in Yopposite directions. The feed lbelt which drives in the desired feed direction which may be termed a forward drive belt, has a higher coefficient of friction with fthe documents than does the belt driving inthe opposite direction, which may be termed `a reverse drive belt. thus, a single document positioned between these belts travels in the desired feed direction due to the higher traction of the forward drive belt. The friction between the reverse drive belt :and the document is less than that between the forward drive belt and the document but greater than that between two of the documents. Therefore, if more :than l,one document is present between sthe belts, all those except the one in contact with the forward drive belt are ldriven away from the transport medium of the system by the reverse drive belt and the document adjacent the forward drive belt lis lfed into the transport medium of the system. iIn such devices it is diflicul-t to maintain the proper balance of friction coeilicients as the Patented Sept. 10, 1963 ICC .25?. drive belts wear with use. Also, this type of feeder feeds documents `in la rand-om manner into the system and requires additional equipment to synchronize and orient vthe documents.

In |the second of the above mentioned types of'feeder devices used for flexible documents, fthe document is drawn against a feed belt or drum by a vacuum which produces enough force between the belt and the document to cause the document to be driven by fthe belt. An opposing vacuum may be used to separate other documents from lthe document to be driven. Diiculty is encountered with multiple feeds with this type of feeder due to the fact that the paper used may be relatively porous and the vacuum may attract one or more documents in the stack. In addition, if perforated checks or documents are utilized, the surfaces -of adjacent checks arey exposed to the vacuum through these perforations and the problem of mulrtiple feed is aggravated. Also, if the documents tend to stick together for other reasons, such as mechanical, adhesive, or electrostatic forces, the separating action of the yopposing vacuum force is `son'ietimes not enough to separate the documents which )are stuck together, and :again multiple feed occurs. This type of feeder also feeds documents in a random manner and requires additional equipment to synchronize and orient the documents.

1t is therefore ran object of this invention to provide an improved document feeder -for adocument handling system.

It is lanother :object of this invention to provide a document feeder for a document handling system which is capable of high rates of feed.

lit is another object of this invention to provide a document feeder for a document handling system which does not mutilate or otherwise physically deface the documents being fed into the system.

It is another object of this invention to provide a document feeder for :a document handling system which may feed either relatively stiff or relatively flexible documents into the system.

lIt is yet `another object of this invention to provide a document feeder for a document handling system which will feed lonly the end document of Ia stack of documents into the transport medium of the system in response to la command signal.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereof proceeds.

Briefly stated, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, `a document handling system is provided with la feeder device which inclu-des a continuously energized accelerating medium, `such las a continuously moving endless belt ora continuously rotating feeder capstan. vA document support member is provided which supports Ia stack of documents and continuously urges the stack into contact with the accelerating medium. A gate, which may for example comprise -a plurality .of parallel finger elements, is provided which is normally positioned between the accelerating medium and the end document of the stack lof documents to be fed into the system. The lingers are pivotally mounted at one end thereof near the leading edge of the end document of the stack. Upon receipt of a command signal, the gate member is pivoted such that the `stack of documents is allowed to come into contact with .the accelerating medium. The accelerating medium then drives the end document into the ltran-sport medium `of the system. The gate member is returned to its normal position before the second document :of the stack :of documents comes into contact with the 'accelerating medium.

The invention both :as to its organization and operation, together with further yobjects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which;

FlIGURE 1 is a plan view of a document reading system in which the invention is embodied;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the lines 2 2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURES 3, 4, 5 and 6 are sectional views taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 and are sequential views showing the operation of one embodiment of the invention; and

FIGURE 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a control circuit suitable for use in the present invention.

Referring to FIG. l, the document reading system incorporating the teachings of the present invention is provided with a base plate 1t) for maintaining the vvarious elements of the device in proper operating relation with each other. An input hopper 11 is adapted to receive a stack of documents 12 to be read and includes a pusher plate 13 for supporting the stack of documents 12 and for continuously urging the stack of documents 12 into contact with feeder front plate 14. Feeder front plate 14 has suitable openings therein through which a continuously energized accelerating medium, which in the embodiment chosen for illustration comprises continuously energized endless belt means `17, may come into frictional contact with and drive the end document of the :stack of documents `12 into a suitable transport medium. Accelerating belts 17 may be continuously driven by a drive capstan I8 and further supported by idler rollers 19. Hinged gate member 2d, shown in its normally closed position, maintains the stack of documents 12 in a spaced relation with the feeder front plate 14- and out of contact with accelerating belts l17. Gate member 2t) is adapted to pivot in response to a command signal at which time the pusher plate .13 urges the stack of documents 12 towards feeder front plate 14 and the end document of the stack of documents 12 comes into contact with acoelerating belt 17 and is accelerated and driven by accelerating belt 17 through a throat region 21 and into a transport medium.

The tran-sport medium includes an endless transport belt driven by drive capstan 26 and supported by idler rollers 2749. Upon the receipt of documents. from the feeder, transport belt 25 carries the documents past a light source `41 and photoelectric cell 42, whose function and operation will later be described, through a reading station 43 and into an output hopper or stacker 44. Pinch rollers 45-50 and document guides 51-53 maintain the documents against and in driven relation with transport belt 25. Endless guide belt 55, supported by idler rollens 56-59, is frictionally driven by transport belt 25 and serves to guide the documents around drive capstan 26 and into the stacker 44.

Stacker 44 is similar to input hopper 111 in structure and includes a pusher plate 62 similar to pusher plate 13 which serves -to support the documents in stacker 44 and to urge the documents into contact with 'stacker backup plate 63.

Any suitable means may be provided to cause pusher plates 13 and 62 to urge their associated stack-s of documents into contact with feeder front plate 14 and stacker backup platey 63, respectively. For example, input hopper 1,1 and stacker 44 may be provided with a suitable slope such that the weight of pusher plates 13 and 62 provides the desired biasing forces. Any other suitable means, such as spring biasing means against pusher plates 13 and 62, could also provide the desired forces.

FIGURE 2 shows a sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1 and shows a front view of feeder front plate 14, illustrating the openings therein through which the accelerating beltsv `17 extend. In the shown embodiment, three accelerating belts 17 are provided to effect a distributed driving force across the surface of a document when it is desired to feed the end document of the stack into the transport medium. Also shown are the openings in feedeizffront plate 14 through which a plurality of finger elements 22 of gate member 20' extend to perform their function of maintaining the stack of documents in `spaced relation with'the accelerating belts 17 when it is not desired to feed documents into the reader. As shown, finger element 22 is positioned on each side of each accelerating belt `17.

In response to a command signal, the gate member 20 is pivoted so as to withdraw the finger elements 22 into the openings in feeder front plate 14 and to allow the end document of the stack of documents to come into driven relation with the accelerating belts 17 and to be driven into the transport medium.

FIGURE 2 also shows a torque motor 65 mounted on the opposite side of base plate 10 and having a drive shaft 66 coupled by suitable coupling means 67 to the shaft of gate member 2li. Torque motor 65 is a limited travel DC. motor which includes a first set of windings which, when energized, positions gate member 20 in its open position and a second set of windings which, when energized, positions gate member 20 in its closed position. Torque motor 65 thus provides the driving force for moving gate member 26 between its open and closed positions.

Alternatively, gate member 20 could be moved from its open to its closed position in any suitable manner, such as by a linear rtravel solenoid having its armature connected to one of the finger elements 22 of gate member 20; however, in practice it has been found that the torque motor arrangement described is capable of much higher rates of operat-ion, and thus much higher controlled rates of document feed.

FIGURE 2 further yshows the pivotal mounting arrangement of the shaft of gate member 20, with gate member 20 being pivoted at its end nearest the leading edge of the documents to be fed into the transport medium. The advantage of pivoting gate member 201y in this manner will be later described. Also shown is the position of photoelectric cell 42, a first plurality of vacuum ports 68 in feeder front plate 14 which may be provided if desired to elfect an additional attraction force for the end document of the stack of documents against accelerating belts 17, and a second plurality of vacuum ports 69. The vacuum ports 68 and 69 may conveniently communicate with a source of vacuum (not shown) by means of a vacuum conduit `such as shown at 73 in FIGURE l1.

FIGURES 3, 4, 5 and 6 are sectional views taken along the lines 3-3 of `FIGURE 2. and are sequential views showing the operation of this embodiment of the invention.

lFIGURE 3 shows the relation between the elements of the feeder device at a time when no command signal is received and it is not desired to feed documents into the transport medium. Accelerating belts 17 and transport belt 25 are energized but gate member 20 is positioned in its closed position such that the linger elements -22 maintain the stack of documents 12 away from feeder front plate v14. Thus, the end document 15 of the stack of documents 12 is not allowed to come into contact with accelerating belts 17.

FIGURE 4 shows the relation of the components at the instant ra command signal is received to feed la document into the transport medium. At this instant, gate member 20 is pivoted to allow the end document 15 of the stack of documents 12 to Icome into cont-act with accelerating belts 17, but because of the finite mass and inertia of document 15, it has not yet been driven by accelerating belts 17. Also shown is vacuum conduit 70 which connects Vacuum ports 69 of FIGURE 2 to a suitable source off vacuum (not shown). This vacuum' provides 'an at traction force for the leading edge of document 15 away from leading edge fence 23 .of the input hopper 11 and facilitates movement of document 15 through the throat yarea 21 and into contact with transport belt 25.

FIGURE 5 shows the relation of the components ka shortfinterval of time after that of FIGURE 4. As shown Sil with the output signal from Gate Flip-Flop terminal 76, results in an input signal being applied to input terminal 78 lof `Gate Flip-Flop '72, thereby setting Gate Flip- Flop 72 and resulting in output terminal 73 becoming positive. This energizes open winding 75 and results in gate member 20 being placed in its open position, thereby allowing the end document 15 to be -fed into the transport medium. The occurrence of the positive signal at output terminal 73 results in the application of lone of the two input signals to AND gate 31.

When end `document 15 has traveled a suitable distance such that its leading edge cuts the light path between light source 41 and photoeicctric cell 42, AND ,gate 82 ceases to provide ian output signal. Upon the non-occurrence of an output signal from AND gate 82, AND gate 8l provides an Ioutput signal to input terminal I9 of Gate Flip-Flop 72, thereby resetting Gate Flip-Flop 72. Output terminal 76 now becomes positive, with the resultant energization yof close winding 77 Aand the assmption of gate member 2 9 of its closed position. Gate member Ztl remains closed until the trailing edge of the end document 15 passes the light source 41, at which time photoeleotric cell 42 again provides an output signal and gate member Z is again opened to allow the next end document to be tfed into the transport medium. This serial feeding operation continues until the command signal is removed from AND ygate 82, at which time gate member 2li assumes its closed position and the card reader ceases to operate. The document reader remains inoperative until a commend signal is again received by AND gate 82, at which time the previously described cycle of operation is repeated.

While the principles of the invention have now been made clear in an illustrative embodiment, there will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications in structure, arrangement, proportions, the elements, materials land components used in the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adapted for specific environment and operating requirements, without departing from those principles. The appended claims are thereore intended to cover and embrace any such modifications, within the limits only of the true spirit and scope fof the invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A device for feeding `the end document of a stack of documents into a transport medium in response to a command signal, comprising an accelerating medium, means for urging the end document of a stack of documents into Contact with said accelerating medium, gate means positioned adjacent said end document and said yaccelerating medium, said gate means being rotatable between a first position in which said gate means is positioned between said accelerating medium and said end document and a second position in which said accelerating medium is plositioned between said gate means `and said end document, and means responsive to a command signal for rotating said gate means from its first to its second position for bringing said end document .into driving relation with said accelerating medium and for feeding it into ysaid transport medium.

2. A device for feeding the end document of a stack of documents into a transport medium in response to a command signa-l, comprising endless belt accelerating means, means for urging the end document of a stack of documents into cont-act with said accelerating belt means,

gate means positioned adjacent said end document and said accelerating belt means, said gate means being rotatable between -a first posi-tion in which said gate means is positioned between said accelerating belt means and said end document and la second position in which said `accelerating belt means is positioned between said gate means and said end document, and means responsive to a command Isignal for rotating said gate means from its first to :its second position for bringing said end document into driving relation with said accelerating belt means and for feeding it into a transport medium.

3. A device for feeding the end document of a stack of documents into a transport medium in response to a command signal, comprising continuously energized endless accelerating belt means, means [for urging a stack of :documents into contact with said accelerating belt means, gate means including a plurality of parallel linger elements positioned adjacent to said accelerating belt means and said end document, said gate means being rotatable between a first position in which said linger elements are positioned between said accelerating belt moms and said end document and a second position in which said accelerating belt means is positioned between said finger elements and said end document, and means responsive to a command signal :for rotating said gate means from tits first to its second position `for bringing said end document into driving relation with said accelerating belt means and for feeding it into 'a transport medium.

4. A device for feeding the end document of a stack of documents into a transport medium in response to a command signal comprising, an input hopper adapted to receive a stack of documents, continuously energized endless accelerating belt means positioned at one end of said input hopper, means for urging said stack of documents into Contact with said accelerating belt means, gate means including a plurality of parallel finger elements positioned adjacent to said accelerating belt means and said end document, said gate means being rotatable between a first position in which said finger elements are positioned between said accelerating belt means and said end docment and a second position in which said accelerating belt means is positioned between said finger elements and said end document, a throat reg-ion positioned at said one end of said input hopper and through which said end document is fed into a transport medium, vacuum means for attracting the leading edge of said end document into said throat region, and means responsive to a command signal for rotating said gate means from its first to its second position for bringing said end document into driving relation -with said accelerating belt means and for feeding it through said throat region into said transport medium.

5. A device for feeding the end document of a stack of documents into a transport medium in response to a Command signal, comprising continuously energized endless acoelerating belt means, gate means including a plurality of parallel iinger elements positioned adjacent to said accelerating belt means and said end document, said gate means being rotatable between a iirst position in which said finger elements are positioned between said accelerating belt means and said end document and a second position in which said accelerating belt means is positioned between said finger elements and said end document, and a torque motor responsive to a command signal for rotating said gate means from its first to its second position for bringing said end document into driving relation with said accelerating medium and for feeding it into a transport medium.

6. A ydevice for feeding the end document of a stack of documents into a transport medium in response to a command signal, comprising an input hopper adapted to receive a stack of documents, continuously energized endless accelerating belt means positioned at one end of said input hopper, means for urging said stack of documents into con-tact with said accelerating belt means, gate means including a plurality of parallel finger elements positioned adjacent to said accelerating belt means and said end document, said gate means being rotatable between a -iirst position in which said iinger elements are positioned between said accelerating belt means and said end document and a second position in which said accelerating belt means is positioned between said linger elements and said end document, a throat region positioned at said one end of said input hopper and through which said end document is fed into a transport medium, vacuum means for attracting the leading edge of said end document into said throat region, and a torque motor responsive to a command signal for rotating said gate means from its first to its second position for bringing said end document into driving relation with said accelerating belt means and for feeding it through said throat region into said transport medium. j

7. A device for feeding the end document of a stack of documents into a transport medium in response to a command signal, comprising an input hopper adapted to receive fa stack of documents, continuously energized accelerating belt means positioned at one end of saiid input hopper, means for urging said stack of documents into contact with said accelerating be-lt means, gate means including a plurality of parallel finger elements positioned adjacent to said accelerating7 belt means and said end document, said gate means being rotatable between a first position in which said linger elements are positioned between said accelerating belt means and said end document and a second position in which said accelerating belt means is positioned between said iinger elements and said end document, a throat region positioned at said one end of said input hopper and ythrough which said end document is fed into a transport medium, vacuum means for attracting the leading edge of said end document into said throat region, a torque motor responsive to a command signal for rotating said gate means from its irst to its second position for bringing said end document into driving relation with said accelerating belt means and for feeding it through said throat region into said transport medium, and means for rotating said gate member from its second to its tirst position when said end document reaches a predetermined position in said transport medium. i

8. A device for feeding the end document of a stack of documents -into a transport medium in response to a command signal, comprising an input hopper adapted to receive a stack of documents, continuously energized endless accelerating belt means positioned at one end of said input hopper, means for urging said stack of documents into contact with said accelerating belt means, gate means including a plurality of parallel iinger elements positioned adjacent to said accelerating belt means and said end document, said gate means being rotatable between a rst position in which said iinger elements are positioned between said accelerating belt means and said end docul ment and a second position in which said accelerating means is positioned between said tinger elements and said end document, a throat region positioned at said one end of said input hopper and through which said end document is fed into a transport medium, vacuum means for attracting the leading edge of said end document into said throat region, a torque motor responsive to a command signal for rotating said gate means from its iirst to its second position for bringing said end document into driving relation with said accelerating belt means and for feeding it through salid throat region into said transport medium, photoelectric means for detecting when the leading edge of said end document reaches a predetermined position in said transport medium, i and means responsive to said photoelectric means for rotating said gate member from its second to its tirst position when the leading edge of said end document reaches said predetermined position.

9. A device for feeding the end document of a stack of documents into a transport medium in response to a cornmand sign-al, comprising an input hopper adapted to receive a stack of documents, continuously energized endless accelerating belt means positioned at one end of said input hopper, means for urging said stack of documents into contact with said accelerating belt means, gate means including la plurality of parallel linger elements positioned adjacent to said accelerating belt means and said end document, said gate means being rotatable between a first position in which said linger elements are positioned between said accelerating belt means and said end document and a second position in which said accelerating belt means is positioned between said linger elements and said end document, a throat region positioned at said one end of said input hopper and through which said end document is fed into a transport medium, a torque motor responsive to a command signal for rotating said ga-te means from its r'st to its second position for bringing said end document into driving relation with said accelerating belt means and for feeding it through said throat region into said transport medium, and means for rotating said gate member from its second to its first position when said end document reaches a predetermined position in said transport medium.

l0. A device for feeding the end document of a stack of documents into a transport medium in response to a command signal, comprising an input hopper adapted to receive a stack of documents, continuously energized endless accelerating belt means positioned at one end of said input hopper, means for urging said stack of documents into contact with said accelerating belt means, gate means including a pluralityvof parallel linger elements positioned adjacent to said accelerating belt means and said end document, said gate means being rotatable between a first position in which said linger elements are positioned between said accelerating belt means and said end document and a second position in which said accelera-ting belt means is positioned between said linger elements and said end document, a throat region positioned at said one end of said input hopper and through which said end document is fed into 1a transport medium, a torque motor responsive to a command signal for rotating said gate means from its first to its second position for bringing said end document into driving relation with said accelerating belt means and fo'r feeding it through said throat region into said transport medium, photoelectric means for detecting when the leading edge of said end document reaches a predetermined position in said transport medium, and means responsive to said photoelectric means for rotating said gate member from its second ,to its first position when the leading edge of said end document reaches said predetermined position. l

il. A device for feeding the end document of a stack of documents into a transport medium in response to a command signal, comprising continuously energized endless accelerating belt means, means for urging a `stack of documents into contact with said accelerating belt means, gate means including a plurality of parallel inger elements positioned adjacent to said accelerating belt means and said end document, said gate means being rotatable between a first position in which said linger elements are positioned between said accelerating belt means and Said end document and a second position in which said accelenating belt means is positioned between said finger elements and said end document, means responsive to a command signal for rotating said gate means from its rst to its second position for bringing said end document into driving relation with said accelerating medium and for feeding it into' a transport medium, and means for rotating said gate member from its second to its tirst position when the leading edge of said end document reaches a predetermined position in said transport medium.

12. A device for feeding the end document of a stack of documents into a transport medium in response to a command signal, comprising continuously energized endless accelerating belt means, means for urging a stack of documents into contact with said accelerating belt means, gate means including a plurality of parallel finger elements positioned adjacent said accelerating belt means and said end document, -said gate means being rotatable between a iirst position inwhich said iinger elements are positioned between said accelerating belt means `and said end document and a second position in which said accelerating belt means is positioned between said linger elements and said end document, means responsive to a command signal for rotating said gate means from its first to its second position for bringing said end document into driving relation with said accelerating beit means and for feeding it into .a transport medium, photoelectric means for detecting when the leading edge of said end document reaches a predetermined position in said transport medium, and means responsive to said photoelect-ric means for rotating said gate member from its second to its iirst position when the leading edge of said end document reaches said predetermined position.

13. A device for feeding the end document of a stack of documents into a transport medium in response to a command signal, comprising yan accelerating medium, means for urging a stack of documents into contact with said accelerating medium, gate means positioned adjacent the end document of said documents and said accelerating meditun, said gate means being rotatable between a first position in which .said gate means is positioned between said .accelerating medium and said end document and a second position in which said accelerating medium is positioned between said gate means and said end document, means responsive to a command signal for rotating said gate means from its first to its second position for i bringing said end document into driving relation with said accelerating medium land for feeding it into 'a transport medium, photoelectric means for detecting when the leading edge of said end document reaches a predetermined position in said ltransport medium, .and means responsive to said photoelectric means for rotating said gate means from its -second to its first position when the leading edge of said end document reaches said predetermined position.

14. A device for feeding the end document of a stack of documents into a transport medium in response to a command signal, comprising an accelerating medium, means for urging a stack of documents into contact with said accelerating medium, gate means positioned .adjacent 4the end document of said documents and said accelerating medium, said gate means being rotatable between a rst position in which said gate means is positioned between said laccelerating medium `and said end document and a second position in which said `accelerating medium is positioned between said gate means and said end document, means responsive to a command signal for rotating said gate means from its first to its second position for bringing said end document into driving relation with said accelerating medium and for feeding it into a transport medium, and means for rotating said gate member from its second to its rst position when the leading edge of said end document reaches a predetermined position in said transport medium.

15. A device for feeding the end document of a stack of documents into a transport medium in response to a command signal, comprising an accelerating medium, means for urging a stack of documents into contact with said accelerating medium, means for normally maintaining said stack of documents in spaced relation with said accelerating medium, means responsive to a command signal for moving said stack of documents into contact with said accelerating medium for bringing the end document of said stack of documents into driving relation with said accelerating medium and for feeding it into a transport medium, and means for returning said stack of documents to a spaced relation with said accelerating medium when said end document reches a predetermined position in said transport medium.

16. A document handling system comprising an input hopper` adapted to receive a stack of documents to be read, a reading station, an output hopper, a transport medium for transporting documents from said input hopper to said reading station and then to said output hopper, a document feeding device for serially feeding the documents in said stack of documents into said transport mcdium in response to a command signal, said document feeding device comprising an accelerating medium, means for urging said stack of documents into Contact with said accelerating medium, means normally maintaining said stack of documents in spaced relation Iwith said accelerating medium, means responsive to said command signal for moving said stack of documents into contact with said accelerating medium for bringing the end document of said stack of documents into driving relation with said accelerating medium and for feeding it into said transpont medium, and means for returning said stack of documents to a spaced relation with the said accelerating medium when the leading edge of said end document reaches a predetermined position in said transport medium.

17. A document handling system comprising an input hopper adapted to receive a stack of documents to be read, a reading station, an output hopper, a transport medium for transporting documents from said input hopper to said reading station and then to said output hopper, a document feeding device for serially feeding the documents in said stack of documents into said transport medium in response to a command signal, said document feeding device comprising an accelerating medium, means for urging said stack of documents into contact with said accelerating medium, gate means positioned adjacent the end document of said stack of documents and said acceleratingl medium, said gate means being rotatable between a lirst position in which the gate means is positioned between said accelerating medium and said end document and a second position in which said accelerating medium is positioned between said gate means and said end document, and means responsive to said command signal for rotating said gate means from its first to its second position for bringing said end document into driving relation with said accelerating medium and for feeding it into said transport medium.

18. A document handling system comprising an input hopper adapted to receive a stack `of documents to be read, a reading station, an output hopper, a transport medium for transporting documents from said input hopper to said reading station and then to said output hopper, a document feeding device for serially feeding the documents in said stack of documents into said transport medium in response to a command signal, said document feeding device comprising a continuously energized endless accelerating belt means positioned at one end of said input hopper, means for urging said stack of documents into Contact with said accelerating belt means, gate means including a plurality of parallel finger elements positioned adjacent to said accelerating belt means and the end document of said stack of documents, said gate means being rotatable between a first position in which said iinger elements are positioned between said accelerating belt means and said end document and a second position in which said accelerating belt means are positioned between said nger elements and said end document, a throat region positioned at said one end of said input hopper and through which said end document is fed into said transport medium, vacuum means for attracting the leading edge of said end document into said throat region, and means responsive to said command signal for rotating said gate member from its iirst to its second position for bringing said end document into driving relation with said accelerating belt means and for feeding it through said throat region into said transport medium.

19. A document handling system comprising an input hopper adapted to receive a stack of documents to be read, a reading station, an output hopper, a transport medium for transporting documents from said input hopper to said reading station and then to said output hopper, a document feeding device for serially feeding the documents in said stack of documents into said transport medium in response to a command signal, said document feeding device comprising a continuously energized endless accelerating belt means, means for urging said stack of documents into contact with said accelerating belt means, gate means including a plurality of parallel nger elements posi-tioned adjacent said acceleratingbelt means and the end document of said stack of documents, said gate means being rotatable between a irst position in which said inger elements are positioned between said accelerating belt means and said end document and a second position in which the accelerating belt means is positioned between said `iinger elements and said end document, means responsive to said command signal for rotating said gate means from its first to its second position'for bringing said end document into driving relation with said accelerating belt means and for feeding it into said transport medium, and means for rotating said gate mean-s trom its second to its rst position lwhen the leading edge of said end document reaches a predetermined position in said transport medium.

. 20. A document handling system comprising an input hopper adapted to receive a ystack of documents to be read, a reading station, an output hopper, a transport medium for transporting documents from said input hopper to said reading station and then to said out-put hopper, a document feeding device for serially feeding the documents in said stack of documents into said transport medium in response to a command signal, said document feeding device comprising a continuously energized endless accelerating belt means positioned at one end ofjsaid input hopper, means for urging said stack of documents into contact with said accelerating belt means, gate means including a plurality-of parallel finger elements positioned adjacent to said accelerating belt means and the end docuresponsive to said command signal for rotating said gate means from its first to its second position for bringing said end document into driving relation with said accelerating belt means and for feeding it through said throat region and into said transport medium, photoelectric means for determining when the leading edge of said end document reaches a predetermined position in said transport medium,

and means responsive to said photoelectric means for rotating said gate means from its second to its first position when the leading edge of said end document reaches said predetermined position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Coakley Oct. 18, 1960 Ramm June 20, 1961 

1. A DEVICE FOR FEEDING THE END DOCUMENT OF A STACK OF DOCUMENTS INTO A TRANSPORT MEDIUM IN RESPONSE TO A COMMAND SIGNAL, COMPRISING AN ACCELERATING MEDIUM, MEANS FOR URGING THE END DOCUMENT OF A STACK OF DOCUMENTS INTO CONTACT WITH SAID ACCELERATING MEDIUM, GATE MEANS POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID END DOCUMENT AND SAID ACCELERATING MEDIUM, SAID GATE MEANS BEING ROTATABLE BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION IN WHICH SAID GATE MEANS IS POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID ACCELERATING MEDIUM AND SAID END DOCUMENT AND A SECOND POSITION IN WHICH SAID ACCELERATING MEDIUM IS POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID GATE MEANS AND SAID END DOCUMENT, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO A COMMAND SIGNAL FOR ROTATING SAID GATE MEANS FROM ITS FIRST TO ITS SECOND POSITION FOR BRINGING SAID END DOCUMENT INTO DRIVING RELATION WITH SAID ACCELERATING MEDIUM AND FOR FEEDING IT INTO SAID TRANSPORT MEDIUM. 